Read on line
Listen on line
Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West "

Aunt Jane's Nieces Out West

"

"Where is Sangoa?" demanded the judge.

"It is an island of the South Seas."

"What nationality?"

"It is independent. It was purchased from Uruguay by Mr. Jones' father

many years ago, and now belongs exclusively to his son."

"Your information is indefinite," snapped the judge.

"I realize that, your honor; but my client deems it wise to keep the

location of his island a secret, because he has valuable pearl

fisheries on its shores. The pearls exhibited by the prosecution were

all found at Sangoa."

"How do you account, then, for their checking so accurately against the

list of stolen pearls?"

"I can make almost any pearls check with that list, which represents a

huge collection of almost every size, weight and color," replied Colby.

"To prove this, I will introduce in evidence Captain Carg of Sangoa, who

recently arrived at Santa Monica Bay with the last proceeds of the pearl

fisheries of the island."

Captain Carg was on hand, with his two sailors guarding the chest. He now

produced the trays of pearls and spread them on the desk before the

amazed eyes of the judge. Le Drieux was astounded, and showed it plainly

on his face.

Colby now borrowed the list, and picking up a pearl from the tray weighed

it on Le Drieux's scales and then found a parallel to it on the list.

This he did with several of the pearls, chosen at random, until one of Le

Drieux's attorneys took the expert aside and whispered to him. Then Le

Drieux's expression changed from chagrin to joy and coming forward he

exclaimed:

"Your honor, this is the collection--the balance of it--which was stolen

from the Countess Ahmberg!"

The judge looked at him a moment, leaned back in his chair and nodded his

head impressively.

"What nonsense!" protested Colby. "These trays contain twice the number

of pearls included in that entire list, as your honor may plainly see."

"Of course," retorted Le Drieux eagerly; "here are also the pearls from

the necklace of Princess Lemoine, and the London collection of Lady

Grandison.

Also read
Read
Read
VII.The Bird-man
Category: Arabic folktales
Read times: 21
Read